Minggu, 31 Agustus 2014

BEIJING ( Caixin Online) - A group of people allegedly ran a business selling meat from dogs that were poisoned - sometimes with cyanide - then stolen and sold to restaurants over two years, prosecutors said during a trial in the eastern province of Zhejiang.

Seventeen people aged from 31 to 74 stood trial on Aug. 25 and 26 in the city of Fenghua on charges of illegal production and sales of toxic and hazardous food. It was unclear what pleas the 17 entered, and no verdict was announced.

Residents of one neighborhood told police in June that a group of people had organized the stealing and killing dogs, Zhejiang Satellite TV reported. Police found that the dogs were sent to underground shops where they were slaughtered so the meat could be sold.

Prosecutors said seven people poisoned the animals with cyanide and an anesthetic bought online in Fenghua and in nearby cities. They then sold the dead dogs to the underground shops.

Prosecutors said two of the men bought the meat to resell, even though they knew it was tainted. One defendant said they bought the meat without ever asking where it came from.

The pair bought the meat for 8 yuan (about $1.20) per kilogram and resold it to wholesalers for 12 yuan, according to the indictment. Police found they bought 22 tons of dog meat since April 2012 and sold it to cities in Zhejiang, including Linhai and Longyou, and also in Nanchang, the capital of neighboring Jiangxi Province.

The two men had revenue of 160,000 yuan from their sales and had another 70,000 yuan worth of frozen meat in stock.

One of the wholesalers was also on trial. Prosecutors accused him of selling 38 tons of tainted meat over the past two years to restaurants and other businesses.

A defendant who worked in the butchering facility said most of the dogs were killed with an anesthetic. Police found levels of anesthetic in the frozen meat were so high they posed a threat to human health, the court heard.

Hao Haihong, a professor at the Veterinary Medicine School of Huazhong Agricultural University in the central city of Wuhan, told Caixin the cyanide would also pose a health risk to humans, even if the meat was cooked. Cyanide causes dizziness, vomiting and possibly death, he said.

The two men who resold the meat told the court they would never dare eat it, and another defendant said he knew the anesthetic could be a problem. 'I don't know what will happen if someone ate the meat, but I know that the anesthetic we used to kill dogs could also kill humans,' he said.

Eating dog meat is legal in China, but it has become controversial. Some in the public have called for a ban on the sale and slaughter of dogs, but people in certain areas say it is a tradition, although not a very old one.

In Yulin, in the southern region of Guangxi, locals celebrate the summer solstice by eating dog meat and drinking grain alcohol. Activists have said the animals are treated inhumanely before they are butchered, but residents say they want to keep the tradition they started in recent years.

See this report at Caixin Online. Follow Caixin on Twitter at @caixin.

Sabtu, 30 Agustus 2014

Around 60 people protested outside the new Happiness is Pets in Naperville last Sunday.

Will America need to find a new puppy mill outlet capital this week?

On Tuesday, we're going to find out exactly what the public officials in Naperville are made of when the puppy mill/pet store argument takes center stage again. After shutting down the debate for the summer while the city investigated its options, Naperville's City Council is expected to open the floor for debate again on Tuesday.

Will Naperville change the laws so it's no longer the puppy mill outlet capital in America? I'm not holding out a lot of hope that they'll be doing the right thing.

You see, doing the right thing is hard. It involves standing up to a couple of businesses that have plopped a lot of blood money tax dollars into the city coffers. The owners of Happiness is Pets and Petland have made fortune over the years misrepresenting where they get their pets to consumers and now politicians.

If you want to doubt what they have to say, just follow the paper trail. A lot of evidence has been gathered connecting the dots between puppy mills and two of Naperville's pet stores.

Now, it's up to the city council to do the right thing.

Take a long hard look at where Happiness is Pets and Petland get their puppies and kittens - puppy mills and kitten mills. Then, show your constituents where you stand on animal abuse.

Are you supporting the almighty dollar or the do you go to bat for the dogs left behind in puppy mills?

Would you rather be known as the puppy mill outlet capital of America or be America's most livable city for both people and dogs?

In an article published in the Naperville Sun Friday, it appears that the recommendation from city staffers is to do nothing by waiting for the state to make a move.

It's a stupid and cowardly way to sweep it under the rug. The most recent version of the state proposal would have allowed the sale of puppies from commercial breeders that didn't have violations. That, my dear, requires a heck of a lot more resources and truly is more difficult to enforce than going humane.

It can be done and has been done in Naperville with the city's oldest pet store - Dog Patch Pet and Feed. That store moved to an adoption model over 2 1/2 years ago and business is booming there. In fact, over two-thirds of America's pet stores don't sell dogs and cats. They work with rescues, shelters and others adopting out pets in need of homes.

It's a business model that saves lives and tax dollars (by removing animals from animal controls). It's also a business model that requires work because it requires hitting on the right formula of products and services to be successful. It's easier and more lucrative to call a broker and have them go to the puppy mill to get your product that you can sell at a premium.

Chicago and Cook County take a lot of flack around the country for a lot of things - crime rates, politicians, the list goes on. But, they do have a backbone on this issue. Both governments did do the right thing this year and stood up for the dogs. In a month, selling commercially bred (puppy mill) dogs and cats in pet stores will be illegal in Cook County. Chicago's new ordinance takes effect in the spring.

Now it's up to Naperville to make a move. Will it be the right one? I guess we need to wait until Tuesday to find out.

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Claude Morais and Brian Wolk, the designers behind the brand , have announced they will not be at New York Fashion Week in September and instead will show their Spring collection in Los Angeles on Oct. 27, as Fashion Week Daily reported.

'Our creative residency in Los Angeles over the last three months has provided endless inspiration, and it made perfect sense to show our collection in the city which inspired it,' the design duo told Fashion Week Daily.

Morais and Wolk shared with the publication they have been living a bicoastal life, and they have partnered with Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.

The duo will be designing their collection in L.A. and will source their textiles and sew their goods via L.A. resources and manufacturing suppliers.

In another fashion week move, earlier in August, Zoë Jordan, who previously showed her collection at London Fashion Week, announced she was heading to the Big Apple.

'London and the British Fashion Council have given me the confidence and support to get into my stride professionally,' stated Jordan to British Vogue.

The designer continued by expanding on her New York experience.

'Having lived there as a bond trader I have an understanding of the urban market in New York and their appreciation for the London look. I think the utilitarian, straight-forward approach to my collections has good synergy with the American audience.'

Jordan added, 'It feels like the perfect challenge and a good time to take the next steps with the brand. I don't know many meaningful, successful brands without a presence in the US, so New York is the first stepping stone to achieving that ambition.'

What are your thoughts on the shuffling around of designers during the various fashion weeks? Do you think we will be hearing of some more during upcoming seasons?

CONNECT WITH FT: Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for the latest news and features from fashion.

It's somewhat ironic that as Melbourne Spring Fashion Week is upon us, spring wardrobes are decidedly unspring-like. Call it 'transeasonal' dressing, or simply call it confusing: Rebecca Vallance's shorts are in the winter-like fabric of leather, Carla Zampatti'sspring feather jackets look like apres-ski attire (despite their spring-inspired hues of blue and lime) and Camilla's renowned caftan-style dresses come out each season, regardless of cloudy skies. Is the season dead, at least as fashion goes?

Perhaps. According to one of MSFW's 'Influencers', The Trend Spotter's blogger Dasha Gold, 'Melbourne has all seasons in one day, so I suppose a 'spring wardrobe' here will mean wearing your four seasons wardrobe in one day.'

Designer Yeojin Bae, who will be showing both her Yeojin Bae and YB J'Aime lines during MSFW, says that she deliberately diffuses the lines between seasons.

'I think it's really important that a piece can work whether it's in the northern or southern hemisphere. My whole collection is strongly based around dresses, and I try not to put any element of fabrication that feels like one season. It gives longevity to style and makes more commercial sense.'

To that end, Bae uses a double-bonded crepe that translates between seasons, and keeps her signature colour of red throughout the year.

Similarly, Thurley's Helen O'Connor says that transeasonal clothes are 'a big part of my creative rationale'. Some of her motivation derives from the fact that a label's winter clothes start landing in stores during the balmy month of January. Her solution has been to use fabrics that translate from one season to the next, and create clothes that adapt. Two of her spring collection pieces - her Day and Night Jacket and Convertible Coat - have both detachable sleeves and vests that come apart from the rest of the garment. Since many of her pieces are worn as racewear during Spring Carnival, she has also learned to anticipate less-than-spring-like conditions for that time of year.

'I've got layers that work and coordinate with your dress, so that your whole look doesn't have to be ruined if the weather isn't suitable.'

The trend is true for menswear, too. Garth Allan, head of buying at Glue Store, says 'we saw men buying le coq sportif spray jackets in summer, because it's a fashion item - not because they need to protect themselves from wind and rain.' He also says that when Australians see catwalk looks overseas, they want to wear them immediately. 'Particularly the men's 'athleisure' trend - we see the Bermuda short and psychedelic surf streetwear ... regardless of the season.'

But not every designer wants to keep their seasonal wear unseasonal. MSFW label Neo Dia has two distinct collections each year, very much tailored to the time they're presented. Their current collection has many form-fitting pieces that hug the silhouette and play with contrast mesh, in tones of blush and lipstick pink.

'I think summer is a lot more optimistic, it's definitely got a sleeker side to it,' says designer Gavin Lowes. His fellow designer, Rebecca Chua, adds that in the warmer weather, 'People are excited about going out and wearing these beautiful dresses. Also, you can show a bit of leg!'

New York, London, Milan, and Paris are the places most people think of when they hear 'fashion week.' But there are hundreds of other major cities around the world that host their own fashion week each year, including Berlin, Bangkok, and Lviv, to name a few. The reason I bring this up is because Stockholm just finished their fashion week yesterday. And while I couldn't tell you the name of one Swedish designer (let alone pronounce them), I can tell you that there were some really awesome hairstyles that came down the runway, many of them courtesy of one man-hairstylist Rudi Lewis.

I first met Lewis backstage at a Yigal Azrouël runway show about five years ago in New York City. I haven't seen him at New York Fashion Week since, but his work was so inspiring that I made sure to follow his blog, and eventually his Instagram account. And it was while scrolling through my feed this week that I came across some of the crazy cool hairstyles he created for Stockholm Fashion Week. At Cheap Monday (okay, so I can pronounce the name of at least one Swedish designer) he added bubblegum-colored streaks to slicked back hair, matching the models ombré pastel lipstick (shown above). A day later at AltewaiSaome, he used strips of black cloth to dress up the back of messy, low ponytails. It was a little bit Samurai warrior, a little bit grunge, and very, very cool.

And then there were the supersized safety pin hair clips at Ann-Sofie Back. I mean, it's not something you could ever wear to the office, but it's awesome to look at. (I'm still trying to figure out how he got that to stay in her hair.)

And on that note, have a great holiday weekend! And don't forget to check back next week for all our coverage on New York Fashion Week, starting September 4th.

RELATED LINKS: * The 3 Best Music Video Beauty Looks of the Week * The Biggest Trend at the 2014 Emmys: Textured Bobs * How a Braid Stole the Spotlight at the U.S. Open

Jumat, 29 Agustus 2014

Pretty Little Liars Season 5 'Fatal Finale' airs this Tuesday (26) on ABC Family and promises to feature one shocking death.

Episode 12, entitled Taking This One To the Grave, will involve one major character death while many fans speculate that Mona may become the victim of A.

However, Alison, who faked her death for the entire season 4, is coming under the spotlight for her suspicious actions in previous episodes. Some fans think that this will finally be the end of Ali.

Meanwhile, the four liars Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily are speculating that Alison might be the dreaded A who has been playing a victim all along.

Ali's absence from the previous episode fuelled the pretty liars' suspicion about her being A, while Hanna appears to be confident about Ali's mysterious identity.

The official synopsis of the mid season finale of Pretty Little Liars via Wetpaint reads:

'Feeling trapped by Alison and 'A,' the PLLs turn to an unlikely person for help in 'Taking This One To The Grave.'

With Alison leading them down a dangerous path and 'A' barring them from telling the police the truth, Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer feel trapped and are desperate to find a way out of this mess. With nothing else to lose, could the PLLs lose everything by putting their faith in a possibly untrustworthy ally?

Meanwhile, Alison begins to build up her own army now that the PLLs have turned their back on her.'

Click here to watch the live stream of the season 5 'Fatal finale', Taking This One To the Grave of ABC's mystery-thriller.

Pretty Little Liars' summer finale will be aired on Tuesday, 26 August on ABC Family.

Content

If you're in the market for a new PlayStation 4 game to keep you occupied while you wait patiently for Destiny's release next month, then you may want to take note of Sony's latest PlayStation Network sale. While there aren't a great number of discounted next-gen releases to pick from, Watch Dogs at £39.99 with an extra 10 per cent off for PlayStation Plus subscribers is a decent enough deal.

Other highlights on the Japanese giant's latest format include motorcycle sim MotoGP 14 at £36.99, puzzle platformer Puddle at just £3.29, and ball buster Sniper Elite III at a very reasonable £34.99. You can probably find these cheaper used, but all of these prices are lower than Amazon.co.uk at the time of typing. Over on the PlayStation 3, parkour escapade Mirror's Edge at £3.99 looks like a solid shout, as does the divisive Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z at £10.99.

We've included the full list of savings in the space below. Take a look, and let us know where you'll be investing your hard earned cash in the comments section.

PS4

Tour de France 2014

Was €54.99/AU$77.95/£49.99, now €29.99/AU$39.95/£24.99

Additional 30% discount for PS Plus subscribers

MotoGP 14

Was €69.99/AU$99.95/£54.99, now €44.99/AU$62.95/£36.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Watch_Dogs

Was €69.99/AU$99.95/£59.99, now €49.99/AU$75.95/£39.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Watch_Dogs Deluxe Edition

Was €79.99/AU$114.95/£64.99, now €59.99/AU$90.95/£49.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag

Was €69.99/AU$92.95/£53.99, now €49.99/AU$75.95/£39.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Puddle

Was €6.99/AU$10.45/£5.79, now €3.99/AU$5.95/£3.29

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Putty Squad

Was €24.99/AU$30.95/£19.99, now €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Sniper Elite 3 (PS4)

Was £49.99/€59.99/AU$84.95, now £34.99/€39.99/AU$54.95 (offer runs until 3rd September)

PS3

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I

Was €7.99/AU$11.95/£6.49, now €3.99/AU$5.95/£3.29

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell HD

Was €9.99/AU$14.95/£7.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow HD

Was €9.99/AU$14.95/£7.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory HD

Was €9.99/AU$14.95/£7.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Sacra Terra: Kiss of Death

Was €11.99/AU$17.95/£9.49, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Joe Danger

Was €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

NBA JAM: On Fire Edition

Was €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Worms Revolution

Was €13.99/AU$20.95/£11.49, now €6.99/AU$10.45/£5.79

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Magus

Was €14.49/AU$21.95/£11.59, now €6.99/AU$10.45/£5.79

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X 2

Was €14.99/AU$22.95/£11.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Trilogy HD

Was €14.99/AU$22.95/£11.99, now €6.99/AU$10.45/£5.79

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

MotoGP 13 Compact

Was €14.99/AU$22.95/£11.99, now €5.99/AU$8.95/£4.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix

Was €14.99/AU$22.95/£11.99, now €6.99/AU$10.45/£5.79

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Ferrari The Race Experience

Was €14.99/AU$22.95/£11.99, now €6.99/AU$10.45/£5.79

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Watchmen: The End Is Nigh

Was €16.99/AU$25.95/£13.99, now €6.99/AU$10.45/£5.79

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Mirror's Edge

Was €19.99/AU$29.95/£15.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Mini Ninjas

Was €19.99/AU$24.95/£15.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Kane & Lynch

Was €19.99/AU$24.95/£15.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Premium Edition

Was €19.99/AU$29.95/£15.99, now €6.99/AU$10.45/£5.79

Air Conflicts: Secret Wars

Was €19.99/£15.99, now €7.99/£6.49

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Birds of Steel

Was €19.99/AU$29.95/£15.99, now €7.99/AU$11.95/£6.49

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Army of TWO The Devil's Cartel

Was €19.99/AU$24.95/£15.99, now €7.99/AU$11.95/£6.49

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Need For Speed: The Run

Was €19.99/AU$24.95/£15.99, now €7.99/AU$11.95/£6.49

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Assassin's Creed II Complete Pack

Was €19.99/AU$29.95/£15.99, now €9.99/AU$14.95/£7.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Complete Pack

Was €19.99/AU$29.95/£15.99, now €9.99/AU$14.95/£7.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Kane & Lynch Dog Days

Was €21.99/AU$32.95/£17.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Tour de France 2014

Was €49.99/AU$69.95/£39.99, now €24.99/AU$29.95/£19.99

Additional 30% Discount for PS Plus Members

Mugen Souls Z Full Game

Was €49.99/AU$69.95/£39.99, now €24.99/AU$29.95/£19.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle - Prestige Edition

Was €59.99/AU$89.95/£49.99, now €29.99/AU$39.95/£19.99

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle - Joestar offer

Was €49.99/AU$69.95/£39.99, now €24.99/AU$29.95/£19.99

DiRT Showdown

Was €59.99/AU$89.95/£49.99, now €9.99/AU$12.95/£7.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z

Was €59.99/AU$89.95/£49.99, now €14.99/AU$17.95/£10.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

MotoGP 14

Was €59.99/AU$89.95/£49.99, now €34.99/AU$44.95/£24.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

SSX

Was €29.99/AU$39.95/£19.99, now €9.99/AU$12.95/£7.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

FIFA 2014 World Cup Brazil Champions Edition

Was €69.99/AU$99.95/£49.99, now €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

F1 2013: Classic Edition

Was €69.99/AU$89.95/£49.99, now €16.99/AU$25.95/£13.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag - Deluxe Edition

Was €39.99/AU$49.95/£29.99, now €29.99/AU$39.95/£19.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Watch_Dogs Deluxe Edition

Was €79.99/AU$109.95/£59.99, now €49.99/AU$69.95/£39.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Watch_Dogs

Was €69.99/AU$89.95/£54.99, now €39.99/AU$49.95/£29.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Earth Defense Force 2025

Was €44.99/AU$62.95/£34.99, now €19.99/AU$24.95/£15.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

MotoGP 13

Was €49.99/AU$69.95/£39.99, now €19.99/AU$24.95/£15.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Farming Simulator

Was €39.99/AU$49.95/£29.99, now €19.99/AU$24.95/£15.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Dishonored Game of the Year Edition

Was €39.99/AU$49.95/£29.99, now €14.99/AU$17.95/£10.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Air Conflicts: Vietnam

Was €39.99/AU$59.95/£32.99, now €14.99/AU$17.95/£10.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

How To Train Your Dragon 2

Was €39.99/AU$49.95/£29.99, now €14.99/AU$17.95/£10.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Was €39.99/AU$49.95/£29.99Now €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99

XCOM: Enemy Within

Was €39.99/AU$49.95/£29.99, now €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99

Payday 2

Was €39.99/AU$49.95/£29.99, now €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures

Was €34.99/AU$44.95/£24.99, now €14.99/AU$17.95/£10.99

One Piece: Pirate Warriors - Grand Line Edition

Was €34.99/AU$44.95/£24.99, now €9.99/AU$12.95/£7.99

Air Conflicts: Pacific Carriers

Was €39.99/AU$49.95/£29.99, now €14.99/AU$17.95/£10.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Remember Me

Was €29.99/AU$39.95/£19.99, now €9.99/AU$12.95/£7.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

EA SPORTS MMA

Was €29.99/AU$39.95/£19.99, now €9.99/AU$12.95/£7.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Fight Night Champion - Full Game

Was €29.99/AU$39.95/£19.99, now €9.99/AU$12.95/£7.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Shift 2 Unleashed

Was €19.99/AU$24.95/£15.99, now €9.99/AU$12.95/£7.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

GRID 2

Was €29.99/AU$39.95/£19.99, now €13.49/AU$20.45/£10.99

Additional 20% Discount for PS Plus Members

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Digital Bundle

Was €29.99/AU$44.95/£24.99, now €14.99/AU$22.95/£11.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Burnout Paradise Complete Edition

Was €29.99/AU$44.95/£24.99, now €14.99/AU$22.95/£11.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag

Was €29.99/AU$39.95/£19.99, now €19.99/AU$24.95/£15.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Medal of Honor Warfighter

Was €29.99/AU$39.95/£19.99, now €7.99/AU$11.95/£6.49

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Was €29.99/AU$39.95/£19.99, now €7.99/AU$11.95/£6.49

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - Teeth of Naros

Was €9.99/AU$14.95/£7.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - The Legend of Dead Kel

Was €9.99/AU$14.95/£7.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Was €24.99/AU$29.95/£19.99, now €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Spec Ops: The Line

Was €29.99/AU$39.95/£19.99, now €7.49/AU$11.25/£6.19

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Putty Squad

Was €24.99/AU$37.95/£19.99, now €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Earth Defense Force 2025 Mission Pack 1

Was €2.99/AU$4.55/£2.49, now €1.99/AU$2.95/£1.69

Earth Defense Force 2025 Mission Pack 2

Was €8.99/AU$13.45/£7.39, now €5.49/AU$8.25/£4.49

Earth Defense Force 2025 Mission Pack 3

Was €8.99/AU$13.45/£7.39, now €5.49/AU$8.25/£4.49

Sniper Elite 3 (PS3)

Was £29.99/€39.99/$49.95, now £19.99/€29.99/$39.95 (offer runs until 3rd September)

PS Vita

Fruit Ninja

Was €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99, now €3.99/AU$5.95/£3.29

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Treasures of Montezuma: Arena 150K Crystals Pack

Was €8.99/AU$13.45/£7.39, now €7.49/AU$11.25/£6.19

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Treasures of Montezuma: Arena 400K Crystals Super Pack

Was €16.99/AU$25.95/£13.99, now €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Treasures of Montezuma: Arena 1m Crystals Mega Pack

Was €69.99/AU$105.95/£57.99, now €49.99/AU$75.95/£39.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Treasures of Montezuma Blitz 100,000 Crystals Pack

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Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Treasures of Montezuma Blitz 1m Crystals Mega Pack

Was €69.99/£57.99, now €59.99/£49.99

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

MotoGP 13 Compact

Was €9.99/AU$14.95/£7.99, now €3.49/AU$5.25/£2.89

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

Stick it to the Man

Was €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99, now €4.99/AU$7.55/£3.99

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Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen

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Touch My Katamari

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Blazblue Continuum Shift Extend

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Super Monkey Ball Banana Splitz

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Metal Gear Solid HD Collection

Was €29.99/AU$44.95/£24.99, now €12.99/AU$19.45/£9.99

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Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus

Was €34.99/AU$47.95/£29.99, now €14.99/AU$22.95/£11.9

Additional 10% discount for PS Plus subscribers

HISTORY Legends of War

Was €34.99/£28.99, now €14.99/£11.99

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Atelier Totori Plus: The Adventurer of Arland

Was €39.99/AU$54.95/£34.99, now €14.99/AU$22.95/£11.99

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Dead or Alive 5 Plus

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Atelier Meruru Plus: The Apprentice of Arland

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Atelier Rorona Plus with 3 DLCs

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Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus

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Toukiden: The Age of Demons

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Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention

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Hyperdimension Neptunia: Producing Perfection

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Demon Gaze

Was €39.99/AU$59.95/£32.99, now €19.99/AU$29.95/£15.99

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New Little King's Story

Was €39.99/AU$54.95/£34.99, now €19.99/AU$24.95/£14.99

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MotoGP 14

Was €39.99/AU$54.95/£34.99, now €19.99/AU$24.95/£14.99

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Deception IV: Blood Ties

Was €39.99/AU$54.95/£34.99, now €24.99/AU$32.95/£19.99

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Street Fighter X Tekken

Was €44.99/AU$62.95/£39.99, now €14.99/AU$22.95/£11.99

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Persona 4 Golden (PS Vita)

Was £34.99/€39.99/AU$54.95, now £14.99/€19.99/AU$24.95 (offer runs until 3rd September)

Thomas Was Alone (PS Vita)

Was £6.19/€7.49/AU$11.25, now £3.29/€3.99/AU$5.95 (offer runs until 3rd September)

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- The first pets taken from a suspected hoarding situation will go up for adoption at the Kent County Animal Shelter Friday afternoon.

Kent County spokeswoman Lisa LaPlante says five puppies and several other adult dogs taken from a Grand Rapids home in June are ready to find a permanent home. The dogs include a three-legged Dalmation named Tripawd.

RELATED: Seized dogs forfeited to Kent County

The news comes the same day the shelter is accepting a large donation from supporter Mindy Smith Pierman, who held a garage sale in honor of a late rescue dog she adopted from the shelter. Smith Pierman and her friends raised $1,400 this year; $1,200 is going to food, supplies and toys for animals at the Kent County Animal Shelter, and the remaining $200 is going to C-Snip.

'We are fortunate to have the support of Mindy and her friends,' said Dr. Laurie Wright, veterinarian for the Kent County Animal Shelter. 'In addition to the usual summer strays and pet surrenders, we've had many additional pets taken from a suspected hoarding situation in June. We have been going through a lot of food, supplies and toys in the past two months. This generous contribution will help us provide increased comfort for the pets in our care.'

Smith Pierman donated Thundershirts to the shelter last year, after seeing how fireworks and thunder made her rescue dog Murphy anxious. Murphy died this year, but Smith Pierman decided to keep on giving in her honor.

'As a re-homed stray, she had always made me aware of how unfair life can be to animals who have done nothing to deserve it,' Smith Pierman said. 'Last year's sale was a lot of fun and very successful. This year we decided to put our efforts into keeping our shelter pets happy and comfortable until they get a forever home. This is starting to look like an annual event!'

The Kent County Animal Shelter is located at 740 Fuller NE in Grand Rapids.

Have you been missing Blair and Serena just a tad too much? Do you find yourself wandering the streets of Brooklyn searching for Dan Humphrey.

Never fear 'Gossip Girl' fans. Now you can relive season one of your favorite show all over again. Grab your very best headbands and bow ties and make like Chuck and Blair during New York City's upcoming Fashion Week.

The iconic New York Palace Hotel, better known as Serena's apartment, is inviting fans to dress as their favorite characters and recreate a photo of the cast from season one on September 5 from 4-7 p.m. and September 6 from 1-4 p.m.

This is as good an excuse as any to strike a pose in the Palace courtyard. (Photo: The Palace Hotel)

You can even compete for the best photo using the hashtag #SpottedAtThePalace on Twitter and Facebook for a chance to win two cocktails (or mocktails) at the hotel bar, Trouble's Trust and a goodie bag from Pomme Palais.

Related: Play Plaza-opoly-The Board Game of the Fabulous Life

Guests should enter through the courtyard on Madison Avenue between 50 th and 51st Streets and strike a pose in the Madison Room at the famous Villard Mansion in the hotel during the assigned times.

What are you waiting for? As Blair once said: 'Destiny is for losers. It's just a stupid excuse to wait for things instead of making them happen.' Don't wait.

'Melbourne is a city bursting with creativity, whether it is through food, fashion, arts, design or music. As Melbourne's landmark dining and shopping destination located next to the city's famous arts precinct, Southgate recognises the contribution Melbourne's iconic fashion designers make to our ever evolving creative scene to make Melbourne a celebrated arts and cultural capital,' says Southgate marketing manager Jo Gartner.

The following exhibitions are presented by Southgate in association with MSFW:

A collaborative photography exhibition between innovative emerging designer Nixi Killick and students from the multi award winning Photography Studies College (Melbourne) showcasing Nixi's strikingly unique techno colour designs through one-off prints captured by some of the college's most promising graduating students.

Nixi was recently chosen as one of the world's top 100 independent designers at Italy's ORIGIN PASSION & BELIEFS showcase. Her designs are a vibrant mix of bio-psychedelic artwork and sculptured techno-wearables and have been worn by Lady Gaga, Kimbra, Hiatus Koyote and Lapalux of Brainfeeder. They have also featured on the runways of MSFW, Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival, AWARE and iD Fashion week.

This creative and collaborative exhibition will be on display in the podium level alcove gallery at Southgate for the duration of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.

New York Fashion Week, which runs Sept. 4-11, is days away, and if you're Hannah Bronfman -- entrepreneur, co-founder of beauty and fitness booking app Beautified, celebrity DJ -- you've got a schedule chock-full of things to do. (Previously, the 26-year-old's itinerary has included everything from DJ'ing fashion label Public School's after-party to walking in the DKNY show.) But that doesn't mean the New York native doesn't find time to play and share her fun with her 81,000 Instagram followers (@hannahbronfman). Bronfman (whose brother Benjamin Bronfman is the founder of Green Owl Records and boyfriend is DJ Brendan Fallis) gives Billboard the lowdown on where she fuels up and gets glam (check out those nails!) in between NYFW shows and gigs.

'For indulging, I love the Shibui Spa at the Greenwich Hotel [377 Greenwich St.]. It's luxurious. For facials, Joanna Vargas [501 Fifth Ave.] is awesome. She has a cult following.'

'I'm loyal to my nail artist named Mei [@ciaomanhattan2012]. She's her own situation. She makes house calls. She used to be at a salon. That's how I first met her. Now she's working as a celebrity manicurist and does a lot of editorial. I don't know what will be on my nails this Fashion Week. We totally try to outdo ourselves.'

SWEAT

'During Fashion Week my schedule gets a little crazy. I'm constantly trying to fit in a workout wherever I have an hour free. Beautified has now partnered with 40 of the best fitness places, and with Fashion Week being uptown and in Chelsea, I never know what part of the city I'm going to be in. I'll do Refine Method [ refinemethod.com] or Chaise 23 [ chaisefitness.com], or I'll pop into Body by Simone [ bodybysimone.com].'

IMBIBE

'My go-to place is Liquiteria [170 Second Ave.]. I get a juice or a smoothie, and they have yummy gluten-free muffins. Ground Support [399 W. Broadway] is awesome. I'm obsessed with this iced mocha latte with almond milk. And Acme [9 Great Jones St.] is good for a nightcap.'

SHOP

' Otte [ otteny.com] has great variety of clothes and accessories. I always love to look at Miu Miu [ miumiu.com], even though I can't afford it. It's pretty inspirational.

In the week leading up to New York Fashion Week, we'll be bringing you dishy tell-alls from the behind-the-scenes folks who make fashion week run. Here, a show crasher shares her story.

For reasons I'll never understand, I somehow convinced myself that standing outside in Midtown during a snowstorm wearing a coat I bought in the fourth grade was going to help me further my career. I was a few feet away from the entrance to the rag & bone show, shivering next to a 'No Parking' sign, wearing a pair of rain boots I got at Target on sale. I looked on as Drew Barrymore hurried inside.

You see, my mother, in a lapse of judgement, had allowed me to skip three days of high school and spend money I had made from my job at Cold Stone Creamery to fly up to New York to try to sneak into New York Fashion Week.

I planted myself outside the show for a full half hour until everyone had gone in before I decided to live up to my millennial stereotype and YOLO my way in. I could see the Gawker headline:

My heart was beating so fast and loud that it was all I could hear as I walked the long sidewalk to the entrance of the venue behind the New York Post Office. The large security guard at the door looked at me. I nervously pretended to look for something in my bag—a skill I had acquired when my French teacher was checking for homework.

Then, I saw it: A soggy, foot-print-covered rag & bone invitation on the ground. (I never got this lucky in French class.) The security guard looked at me. I looked at him. I looked at the invitation. He looked at me. I picked up the invitation. He looked at me. I looked at him. He looked at the invitation. He stepped aside.

I walked inside as fast as I possibly could and spotted the PR check-in desk. I looked at it. No one looked at me. I stepped inside.

I fought the urge to jump up and down wildly because, suddenly, I was standing next to Miroslava Duma. I WAS IN!

After I took a blurry Instagram of Drew Barrymore (27 likes), I found my way to the standing section. I watched, mesmerized, as model after model stomped onto the runway. I refused to take a single picture of the show because it was one of those moments that I wanted to be entirely present for. The fabric shining from the bright lights focused on the runway, the deafening music overhead, the excitement radiating from the crowd of people I religiously stalked on social media—it made all the cold I endured worth it.

Now, almost two years later, I work in fashion full-time, side-by-side with the people I had once admired from across the runway, and I swear: The minute I get a fancy Fashion Week invitation with my name on it, I'm 'dropping' it a few feet away from the show. Call it paying it fashion forward.

In the week leading up to New York Fashion Week, we'll be bringing you dishy tell-alls from the behind-the-scenes folks who make fashion week run. Up first? The bouncer.

It was my second fashion week in New York and I was running the door for a questionably legal nightclub in the back of a restaurant in Chinatown. I knew it was going to be a long night. I had been getting texts all day, mostly from people I didn't know, all of them asking if I could get them in.

'Hey, I'm that girl form the loft party let me in tonight and I promise ill return the favor ;)'

'Hey dude, I got your number from a friend, my dad is a big actor, could you get me and my friends in tonight?'

'Hey man I have a super popular blog but I couldn't get on the list tonight, if you let me in tonight I'll write about you'

'yoo, let me in tonight and I'll bring you to a crazy after party...I heard they hired escorts!'

It was winter and I was about to have to stand outside for five hours arguing with wildly entitled bloggers, interns, and socialites about why they weren't getting into the party celebrating the It-designer of the season.

I showed up at my club around 10 p.m. Doors were set to open at 11 p.m., but there was already a line of people forming outside. When I walked in, the club that was supposed to be totally set up was still in restaurant mode. This was set to be our biggest party of fashion week, doors were supposed to open in half an hour, and I was staring at a restaurant. People were frantically running around setting up lights and moving out tables, but there was nothing we could do about the totally random people who were still eating dim sum and had no idea what was happening. (They really didn't know that, the night before, I had watched two girls that really needed attention, strip on those banquette seats while someone sprayed them with champagne.) After a few screaming matches with the restaurant manager, I decided to turn off all the lights until the people who were eating got the hint and left.

We were a half an hour behind schedule. When I walked outside to have a smoke, the small line I had been greeted with had turned into a shapeless mob of people. I was immediately handed a list from the designer's team (who hated me). The PR girl who was 'trying' to help at the door looked like she had been crying; my security guards were yelling for everyone to back up and form a line; I got a text saying that the designer, himself, was on his way and wanted to know his personal friends weren't able to get in.

With the club set up enough, we began letting people in. The night hadn't even really begun, but all semblance of order had already been lost. There were people screaming my name in every direction; random people were leaning over the ropes and physically grabbing at my jacket to get my attention. Every person gave me a reason as to why the needed to be inside, and with every person not let in came the usual insults. I would tell people it was just a party—nothing to get worked up about. They, in turn, would tell me that I was a 'disgusting person' and that they 'would get me fired.' A lot of gay slurs were thrown (and I'm not even gay). They would swear they'd jump me after work. Someone took a swing at me. A girl spit at me. I never knew the fashion crowd could get so vicious.

About two hours into the party and the line was still building. It was clear that my security would be totally unable to control the crowd. No one would listen to them (or me) and we needed some order. The capacity of the venue was about 100 (at best) and we had at least 200 people inside. And the PR girl completely vanished. (Could you blame her?) In a mixture of rage and exhaustion, I snapped. I climbed on top of a fire hydrant and started yelling. The crowd went quiet for a moment until one person started booing, which sparked a chain reaction of people screaming. People started throwing whatever they had in their pockets at me and I was forced inside by security. Shortly after that, the cops showed up and shut the whole thing down. I guess the problem was solved.

You want a confession? Listen, I do not care who you blog for, I do not care who your parents are, I do not care what friends you have inside, and I do not care who you work for. If you want to get into a fashion week party, there are three things to do: dress well; be polite; and try to sneak in with a big group...that's already on the list.

Either Ubisoft feels that Watch Dogs failed miserably when it came to sales or it did pretty great warranting such a price drop. For a pretty recent title, this sale on Amazon does seem to suggest either one of these things.

Ubisoft's highly ambitious free roam open world title, which many claimed would be the GTA killer is on a 40% sale at Amazon for current generation consoles, Xbox One and PS4. The previous generation versions for PS3 and Xbox 360 are at a 34% sale.

The PC version of the game, which many claim to be the most disappointing one given the system specifications the game demanded and delivered visuals not so different from its current generation console counterparts, has the highest sale of 47% bringing the price down to 32$.

The sale seems to be exclusive to Amazon and isn't even available from Uplay, Ubisoft's very own digital distribution system.

Have you been waiting for such a sale so that you could finally try out the game, set in a somewhat futuristic world where the city of Chicago is controlled by a single operating system, ctOS which the protagonist can manipulate as he desires?

Rabu, 27 Agustus 2014

In the week leading up to New York Fashion Week, we'll be bringing you dishy tell-alls from the behind-the-scenes folks who make fashion week run. Up first? The bouncer.

It was my second fashion week in New York and I was running the door for a questionably legal nightclub in the back of a restaurant in Chinatown. I knew it was going to be a long night. I had been getting texts all day, mostly from people I didn't know, all of them asking if I could get them in.

'Hey, I'm that girl form the loft party let me in tonight and I promise ill return the favor ;)'

'Hey dude, I got your number from a friend, my dad is a big actor, could you get me and my friends in tonight?'

'Hey man I have a super popular blog but I couldn't get on the list tonight, if you let me in tonight I'll write about you'

'yoo, let me in tonight and I'll bring you to a crazy after party...I heard they hired escorts!'

It was winter and I was about to have to stand outside for five hours arguing with wildly entitled bloggers, interns, and socialites about why they weren't getting into the party celebrating the It-designer of the season.

I showed up at my club around 10 p.m. Doors were set to open at 11 p.m., but there was already a line of people forming outside. When I walked in, the club that was supposed to be totally set up was still in restaurant mode. This was set to be our biggest party of fashion week, doors were supposed to open in half an hour, and I was staring at a restaurant. People were frantically running around setting up lights and moving out tables, but there was nothing we could do about the totally random people who were still eating dim sum and had no idea what was happening. (They really didn't know that, the night before, I had watched two girls that really needed attention, strip on those banquette seats while someone sprayed them with champagne.) After a few screaming matches with the restaurant manager, I decided to turn off all the lights until the people who were eating got the hint and left.

We were a half an hour behind schedule. When I walked outside to have a smoke, the small line I had been greeted with had turned into a shapeless mob of people. I was immediately handed a list from the designer's team (who hated me). The PR girl who was 'trying' to help at the door looked like she had been crying; my security guards were yelling for everyone to back up and form a line; I got a text saying that the designer, himself, was on his way and wanted to know his personal friends weren't able to get in.

With the club set up enough, we began letting people in. The night hadn't even really begun, but all semblance of order had already been lost. There were people screaming my name in every direction; random people were leaning over the ropes and physically grabbing at my jacket to get my attention. Every person gave me a reason as to why the needed to be inside, and with every person not let in came the usual insults. I would tell people it was just a party—nothing to get worked up about. They, in turn, would tell me that I was a 'disgusting person' and that they 'would get me fired.' A lot of gay slurs were thrown (and I'm not even gay). They would swear they'd jump me after work. Someone took a swing at me. A girl spit at me. I never knew the fashion crowd could get so vicious.

About two hours into the party and the line was still building. It was clear that my security would be totally unable to control the crowd. No one would listen to them (or me) and we needed some order. The capacity of the venue was about 100 (at best) and we had at least 200 people inside. And the PR girl completely vanished. (Could you blame her?). In a mixture of rage and exhaustion, I snapped. I climbed on top of a fire hydrant and started yelling. The crowd went quiet for a moment until one person started booing, which sparked a chain reaction of people screaming. People started throwing whatever they had in their pockets at me and I was forced inside by security. Shortly after that, the cops showed up and shut the whole thing down. I guess the problem was solved.

You want a confession? Listen, I do not care who you blog for, I do not care who your parents are, I do not care what friends you have inside, and I do not care who you work for. If you want to get into a fashion week party, there are three things to do: dress well; be polite; and try to sneak in with a big group...that's already on the list.

Everyone knows Instagram is the best place to style stalk (and wedding stalk, but that's another story). So we were pretty thrilled to learn that one of fashion's biggest icons is joining the social media app.

She's tall, blond, wears many hats, drives a sweet pink Corvette, and at 55, she hasn't aged one bit. Yep, Barbie is on Instagram and she's going to New York Fashion Week. She'll be staying at The Standard (duh) while in New York and will be traveling with the fashion pack to London, Milan and Paris.

But you don't have to be front row to see her. You can follow her @BarbieStyle to see what she's loving on the runways, who she hangs out with (Cara???), and what her go-to NYFW survival kit includes. (We have a feeling it is sure to include ELLE's September issue, but we may be biased.)

For style-minded New Yorkers who don't have an in with the industry, Fashion Week can be a frustrating time. All the designer clothing, hot celebs and awe-inducing models tucked secretively behind tent walls are enough to make the uninvited go mad. (And we won't even get you started on the sudden influx of high-heeled women stealing your cabs and snatching all the good seats at Starbucks.)

But before you swear off the fashion elite and opt to hibernate in your apartment all week, know that you have other options. Here's how to get in on the action, without an invitation.

What: There's no place more stylish to relax during NYFW than the Barbie Fashion Lounge, where you can check out looks inspired by America's favorite doll from designers including Cynthia Vincent, Rebecca Taylor, Charlotte Ronson and more while sipping on refreshments-- and Instagramming with two Fashion Week essentials: free Wi-Fi and phone charging stations.

When: Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: Corner of 14th Street and 9th Avenue

GET PUMPED

What: Lifestyle brand Athleta will open up their high energy, adrenaline-fueled fashion installation to the public, showing off the latest looks with choreography by Luam Keflezgy, who has lent her talents to everyone from Britney Spears to Beyonce.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m.; RSVP at eventbrite.com.

Where: SIR Stage37, 508 W. 37th St.

TAKE A TOUR

What: Personal shopping and styling company Seek New York is hosting an extended version of their popular designer-led Garment District tour, with a focus on New York Fashion Week and a stop at Lincoln Center. The three-hour tour will include a visit to a factory, showroom or other insider spot, a look at fashionable landmarks, famous locations seen on TV and an undisclosed Fashion Week gift.

What: Fashion Week staple Christian Siriano invites you to celebrate the launch of his first ever fragrance, at a party hosted by model Coco Rocha with music by the Misshapes.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 3, 6-9 p.m.

Where: 402 W. 13th St.

PRIMP AND PARTY

What: As a part of the Mackage Soho Store Series, the brand will host a Fashion Week event to celebrate its partnership with cosmetics company butter LONDON. Guests will enjoy complimentary manicures and shopping while grooving to tunes by a live DJ.

When: Saturday, Sept. 6, 4-6 p.m.

Where: 123 Mercer St.

DINE LIKE A DIVA

What: Throughout the week, select restaurants in Lincoln Square will offer special deals on Fashion Plate prix fixe menus to NYFW attendees and the general public alike. Indulge in three course lunches in the heart of the action at hot spots such as A Voce Columbus, Bar Boulud, Bouchon Bakery and more... you never know who you might spot at the next table.

FashionistaFashionista Editors Reveal Their Fashion Week EssentialsFashionistaFashion Week certainly appears (and at times, is) glamorous, but prepping for it is a practical matter. Why? Well, once you've hit day four of running around town in your new Rag & Bone booties, developing blisters on top of blisters, swearing at your ...

Selasa, 26 Agustus 2014

Stuff.co.nzNew Zealand Fashion Week Live: Day TwoStuff.co.nz... (on a jumpsuit, we loved it) leather jackets, mesh, tartan, and yellow were all spotted. * This afternoon the runway's been taken over by ivory at the Weddings fashion showcase. Check out our live coverage here ... Live Blog Fashion Week Live: Day Two.

Either Ubisoft feels that Watch Dogs failed miserably when it came to sales or it did pretty great warranting such a price drop. For a pretty recent title, this sale on Amazon does seem to suggest either one of these things.

Ubisoft's highly ambitious free roam open world title, which many claimed would be the GTA killer is on a 40% sale at Amazon for current generation consoles, Xbox One and PS4. The previous generation versions for PS3 and Xbox 360 are at a 34% sale while there seems to be no love for the Wii U version, with it being selling at full retail price.

The PC version of the game, which many claim to be the most disappointing one given the system specifications the game demanded and delivered visuals not so different from its current generation console counterparts, has the highest sale of 47% bringing the price down to 32$.

The sale seems to be exclusive to Amazon and isn't even available from Uplay, Ubisoft's very own digital distribution system.

Have you been waiting for such a sale so that you could finally try out the game, set in a somewhat futuristic world where the city of Chicago is controlled by a single operating system, ctOS which the protagonist can manipulate as he desires?

Either Ubisoft feels that Watch Dogs failed miserably when it came to sales or it did pretty great warranting such a price drop. For a pretty recent title, this sale on Amazon does seem to suggest either one of these things.

Ubisoft's highly ambitious free roam open world title, which many claimed would be the GTA killer is on a 40% sale at Amazon for current generation consoles, Xbox One and PS4. The previous generation versions for PS3 and Xbox 360 are at a 34% sale while there seems to be no love for the Wii U version, with it being selling at full retail price.

The PC version of the game, which many claim to be the most disappointing one given the system specifications the game demanded and delivered visuals not so different from its current generation console counterparts, has the highest sale of 47% bringing the price down to 32$.

The sale seems to be exclusive to Amazon and isn't even available from Uplay, Ubisoft's very own digital distribution system.

Have you been waiting for such a sale so that you could finally try out the game, set in a somewhat futuristic world where the city of Chicago is controlled by a single operating system, ctOS which the protagonist can manipulate as he desires?

JEREMY SCOTT is teaming up with Miley Cyrus for New York Fashion Week and - while we're convinced it will be cartoonish and colourful, two of the twosome's favourite concepts - we're not quite sure what it will entail.

'Miley and I have something very exciting we're brewing up for the future,' Scott told MTV at this weekend's VMAs.

Scott - who is also creative director of Moschino - cautiously revealed that the project was for his eponymous New York Fashion Week show and would involve 'a group of cool kids, rather than models,' but refused to divulge any more.

'I'm going to let her announce it,' he teased the interviewer of his controversial collaborator. 'You try to bug her when you see her.'

The 'Pretty Little Liars' summer finale, titled 'Take This One To The Grave,' is said to be an explosive episode. One of the 'liars' may face a fatal encounter in the highly anticipated episode.

According to the episode 12 spoiler clip, 'someone will die in the biggest twist yet.'

So, naturally, fans wonder who will die.

The synopsis is as follows: 'With Alison leading them down a dangerous path and 'A' barring them from telling the police the truth, Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer feel trapped and are desperate to find a way out of this mess.'

In the mid-season finale spoiler video, Detective Holbrooke is seen standing at a crime scene. She is explaining that the amount of blood in the area could mean the victim's injury is fatal.

No one knows who the victim is; the detective remains in the dark as well. Since no body is found at the crime scene, fans speculate that someone faked their own death -- which is not unusual in Rosewood.

It will be hard for fans to imagine losing Emily, Aria, Hanna, or Spencer, especially since the show has reportedly been renewed for another two seasons. However, Paige, Ezra, Caleb, or Toby, who have all crossed paths with A, could potentially be the victim at the crime scene..

Mona could be the victim as well, especially after discovering vital information about the unforgiving A.

'Pretty Little Liars' finale will be airing Tuesday, August 26 on ABC Family.

Senin, 25 Agustus 2014

It's most definitely been designer Jeremy Scott's year. Not only did he reinvigorate Italian label Moschino with his pop culture-laced sensibility (and had the fashion world clamoring for McDonald's-inspired accessories), but now he's teaming up with none other than Miley Cyrus.

He told a reporter on the MTV VMAs red carpet last night: 'I'm always working with people. I just did something for Katy [Perry's] tour that she's on right now, Miley as well. And Miley and I have something very exciting that we are brewing up for the future...I am going to let her announce it....I love working with musicians, to me it's such a joy. I love the performers, I love the music, so it's always exciting to kind of help them propel their image even further with my designs.'

While Scott may have been tight-lipped about the collab, he did let slip that it would drop during his Spring 2015 runway show during New York Fashion Week in September. 'I'm trying to almost capture the look of very cool kids rather than models in a model army,' he said of what to expect from his next collection. 'It's a new approach because each outfit is so uniquely different.' Is Miley one of the cool kids he's talking about? Did she do the runway music? We have so many questions, and can't wait to find out.

As for the one person Scott is still dying collaborate with, that would be Dolly Parton. 'I might need to talk to Miley about that because she is her god-aunt,' he said.

Are you dying to see what these two will come up with together? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Last year in Arkansas, hundreds of homeless dogs were euthanized because they had nowhere to go and were considered poorly socialized. Paws in Prison's mission is to change that.

Paws in Prison is made possible through Arkansas Department of Correction's (ADC) partnership with animal shelters and animal advocate groups around the state. Select inmates have the opportunity to help become trainers of rescue dogs in the program. Inmates work with the dogs teaching them basic obedience skills and to properly socialize the animals, making them more adoptable.

Carrie Kessler is a trainer for the program. She said she's seen it transform not only the dogs but the inmates involved as well.

'Training the dogs gives them a purpose and an opportunity to do good and give back to the community. The dogs are trained using positive reinforcement methods. We teach them basic family manners like not jumping on people and walking well on a leash. One of the most attractive benefits is that they are house trained. People like being able to adopt a rescued dog that comes trained. We also provide follow-up training for the adopter,' she said.

The benefits of this program are three-fold:

The Paws in Prison program reduces the number of animals who perish by better preparing them to be loving, obedient and adoptable pets. The program gives inmates the skills necessary to support successful rehabilitation and reentry into the community - and ultimately improve public safety. At the same time, Paws in Prison serves an opportunity for the inmates to do something positive for the communities of Arkansas. In states where similar programs operate, they have had a profound impact on inmates and staff, thus improving security and the quality of life inside the institutions.

ADC modeled its program after a similar one in the Missouri prison system. In August 2011, a four-person team representing ADC traveled to Missouri to see first-hand how that program operates and to get ideas on how to implement a successful program in Arkansas. Paws in Prison is supported by private donations and the sale of recyclables. To make donations go to: http://ift.tt/1mKsSpe or via mail to Paws in Prison, in C/O Arkansas Department of Correction, P.O. Box 8707, Pine Bluff, AR 71611. Paws in Prison is a non-profit program and receives no state funds. All donations are tax-deductible, save the lives of dogs and help rehabilitate prisoners in the process.

Some of the animals available for adoption include:

Otto. He is a bundle of fun, loves to romp around and play, and greatly enjoys the company of other dogs. Otto loves toys and playing in the water. Otto was rescued as a stray by the Cabot Animal Shelter, and after getting a plea due to their shelter being full, Otto was rescued, placed him in the Paws in Prison program, and given a new start on life. Otto is happy to be out of the shelter, enjoying learning commands, and making new friends. He is great with children and would be a perfect family dog.

Otto is neutered, vaccinated, and micro-chipped. His adoption fee is $250 and he is approximately 10 months old. Otto just graduation from obedience training from the Paws in Prison program. If you are interested in meeting Otto or learning more about the adoption process, please visit online adoption application here: http://ift.tt/1mKsUgQ

Nash is a handsome Collie mix that was rescued from the Benton Shelter, and is now enjoying his time in the Paws in Prison training program. Nash's looks are definitely not his only quality. He is a loving dog that adores attention. He is great with other dogs and really enjoys playing with them. Nash is neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped. At an approximate age of 3 years, he weighs 56 pounds.

Nash is in the Paws in Prison program, where he receives obedience training. He is expected to graduate as an AKC Canine Good Citizen on 8/27/14. Adoption applications may be submitted now. Nash's adoption fee is $250. The dogs in this program are specifically selected and trained to be family and companion dogs. They spend 24 hours a day with their trainers. For that reason, they will do best in homes where they are inside dogs and spend lots of time with their families.

If you are interested in meeting Nash or learning more about the adoption process, please visit here: http://ift.tt/1mKsUgQ

Meet Lea, just a puppy, but ready for a loving forever home. She is about 16 weeks old and will be a medium-sized dog, possibly a shepherd mix. She loves other dogs and people. She is crate trained and knows some basic commands. Her adoption fee is $150. Contact carrie@paws4hopelca.org to meet this sweetie.

Harrah's Resort Southern California was the host for Fashion Week San Diego's Culinary Couture on Aug. 16.Chef Jon Palsson created a 7 course meal featuring cuisine from each of the chosen fashion capitals . The Gifted Horse provided centerpieces which were sold to benefit the Rancho Coastal Humane Society which is the official charity of the 2014 Fashion Week San Diego which runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5. 'Culinary Couture has been a longtime dream of mine,' said Fashion Week San Diego Founder and Director Allison Andrews. 'Thanks to our amazing partnership with Harrah's Resort Southern California, it has become a reality.'

Center for Community Solutions is hosting its 10 th Annual Chef Showdown on Sept. 18 at the San Diego Harley Davidson shop on Morena Blvd. The fundraiser kicks off Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is October. Some of San Diego's top chefs will participate in an 'Iron Chef' style competition with 8 chefs acting as judges. Sam Zien from Sam the Cooking Guy will host the competition. All proceeds will benefit the programs and services of CCS providing advocacy, legal support, healing and prevention services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse.

Jewish Family Service has received the highest rating from Charity Navigator, America's premier charity evaluator. Charity Navigator awards its 4-star designation to nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated strong fiscal management. Ken Berger, President and CEO of Charity Navigator, said, 'Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that the organization adheres to good governance and other best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way. Only 2% of the charities we rate have received at least 7 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Jewish Family Service of San Diego outperforms most other charities in America.'

Miracle Babies, an organization dedicated to providing education, support, and financial assistance to families with newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit, is the beneficiary of the United States Polo Association's Rossmore Cup White Party being held at the San Diego Polo Club on Aug. 31. 'We're truly honored to be the beneficiary of this prestigious event and celebration,' said Sean Daneshmand, M.D., founder of Miracle Babies. 'Many mothers of premature or critically ill newborns are financially unable to be at the hospital with their babies every day,' he said.

The Peers Summer White Tie Gala is being held on Aug. 30 at an estate in La Jolla Farms. The sponsor is Patron Spirits/Ultimat Vodka. The Peers Network group raises funds for Challenged Athletes Foundation and Outdoor Outreach.

American Heart Association and Union Bank Chula Vista Branch

The American Heart Association San Diego Division collaborated with Union Bank to host a Health and Wellness Expo at the Union Bank Chula Vista branch on Aug. 9. Participants received complimentary blood pressure and body mass index screenings, and one-on-one consultations with a cardiologist. Union Bank executives also shared information about financial planning, such as budgeting and saving. The goal of the Expo was to bring the 'No Wealth Without Your Health' message to local communities.

St. Madeleine Sophie's Center raised $175,000 at its 37 th Annual Haute with Heart Fashion Show held on Aug. 16 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Past Honoree, Joan Eichen, donated $50,000 in honor of the 37 th annual event. Proceeds go directly to benefit adults with developmental disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

The Rancho Santa Fe Women's Fund will celebrate its anniversary on Sept. 8 at the Rancho Santa Fe. Dr. Razelle Kurzrock, UCSD's Moore's Cancer Center will be the guest speaker. Kurzrock leads the new Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy. The mission of the RSF Women's Fund is to educate, inspire and increase the number of women committed to philanthropy in order to strengthen the community and impact lives through informed focused, collective giving.

Throughout her childhood, Carissa Randall often heard her mother speak of her yearning to work in the fashion industry.

Jada Randall frequently discussed her dream of working as a buyer for Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue, one of those glamorous department stores based in faraway New York City.

So when Carissa Randall took a buyout from her job a few years ago, she decided it was time to combine her financial acumen with her mother's fashion aplomb and create a business that would nudge Jada Randall toward her long-held aspiration.

Carissa Randall launched her company, Styled By Jada, in June 2013, with her mother as her sole employee. The business includes a custom clothing line, Elan J, with designs by Jada Randall.

Next month, the business will attain unprecedented exposure as models at an event connected with New York Fashion Week walk a runway wearing Jada Randall's designs.

'I think it's going to launch us, I really do,' said Jada Randall, 51, of Lakeland. 'There's going to be tons and tons of buyers there, and all kinds of fashion bloggers. ... It's a huge opportunity for us in terms of getting our name out there.'

Elan J will be one of several clothing lines featured in a designer's review taking place Sept. 6 at a venue in New York's Chelsea district. Carissa Randall, a Mulberry resident, said designers whose clothes have been accepted for the review are contractually banned at this time from releasing the location or other details about the event.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, one of the world's premiere events for the sartorial industry, runs Sept. 4 through Sept. 8.

Carissa Randall, 29, said she submitted a 'lookbook,' a portfolio of garments, during the application period. She learned in late May that Elan J was among the clothing lines selected to be worn by models at one of the official Fashion Week events.

The name for the line combines the names of Jada Randall's two first-born grandchildren, Jaden and Elani-Hazel.

Jada Randall's collection includes midi dresses, maxi dresses and slacks, as well as T-shirts and tank tops. One example displayed on the company's website (www.styledbyjada.com), is a peachtree crop top midi skirt. A photo shows a model wearing a clingy, sleeveless dress in blocks of salmon and azure with a halter-like collar.

Some of the T-shirts display the company's logo, the head of a lion wearing a crown.

Jada Randall said her favorite designers include the late Gianni Versace, Nicole Miller and Donna Karan. She said she watches fashion shows and awards broadcasts on TV to get ideas and also reads fashion magazines to see what celebrities are wearing.

Carissa Randall described her mother's designs as 'sophisticated, after-5 wear.' Jada Randall said her fashion preferences trace to her own mother, Pauline Wade.

'I used to watch my mother dress when we lived in New York when I was a little girl,' Jada Randall said. 'She just dressed so nice and always so classy, and that is where my love for fashion came from, from watching from mom. ... That's what our clothing line is all about - class and elegance.'

Jada Randall has long been a source of fashion guidance for friends. She said she began receiving inquiries from friends who either saw her out on the town or saw photos of her posted on Facebook and asked her to find outfits to suit them.

The company's name, Styled by Jada, reflects Jada Randall's practice of 'styling' friends - that is, finding clothes for them and tailoring them, if necessary. That venture led into Randall's creation of her own clothing line custom designed for women based on their measurements.

Though Carissa Randall has drawn some designs of her own, in general the pair have strictly defined roles.

'She doesn't want anything to do with the business side,' Carissa Randall said. 'That makes us work together very well. I'm not getting into what she's doing, and she's not getting into what I'm doing.'

Jada Randall said she pays a seamstress to turn her designs into clothing.

The Elan J line got its first public exposure last summer when Greater Works Ministries of Winter Haven invited the Randalls to provide clothing for models at a fashion show held in Lakeland.

'After the show, women were purchasing the clothes off the models,' said Angela Nixon, the Greater Works Ministries member who organized the event.

Jada Randall spent her childhood in New York, and Carissa Randall said she has been to the city three times. But neither has attended Fashion Week events before.

'We're extremely excited and stoked,' Carissa Randall said.

Aside from the thrill of seeing New York models wearing her company's clothes, Carissa Randall said she eagerly anticipates seeing such celebrity designers as Russell Simmons, creator of Phat Farm, Argyleculture and American Classics clothing lines.

At this point, both Randalls have full-time jobs. Carissa Randall works in the unclaimed property research department for Coca-Cola, and her mother is a probation officer. But Carissa Randall, emphasizing the strength she draws from her Christian faith, said she hopes next month's exposure hastens the day when mother and daughter can devote themselves fully to fashion.

'My ultimate goal is to mass produce, so I can supply to major department stores,' Carissa Randall said. 'And we also aspire to style celebrities because they are the ones who have really upscale events to go to where they have to be exquisitely presentable. So those are our inspiring goals.

'We're trying to go global, and we want Elan J to be world renowned.'

[ Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. He blogs about tourism at http://ift.tt/NCdoZb. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. ]

Polk Mother-Daughter Team to Get Exposure at N.Y. Fashion Week

<p>Throughout her childhood, Carissa Randall often heard her mother speak of her yearning to work in the fashion industry.</p><p>Jada Randall frequently discussed her dream of working as a buyer for Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue, one of those glamorous department stores based in faraway New York City.</p><p>So when Carissa Randall took a buyout from her job a few years ago, she decided it was time to combine her financial acumen with her mother's fashion aplomb and create a business that would nudge Jada Randall toward her long-held aspiration.</p><p>Carissa Randall launched her company, Styled By Jada, in June 2013, with her mother as her sole employee. The business includes a custom clothing line, Elan J, with designs by Jada Randall.</p><p>Next month, the business will attain unprecedented exposure as models at an event connected with New York Fashion Week walk a runway wearing Jada Randall's designs.</p><p>'I think it's going to launch us, I really do,' said Jada Randall, 51, of Lakeland. 'There's going to be tons and tons of buyers there, and all kinds of fashion bloggers. ... It's a huge opportunity for us in terms of getting our name out there.'</p><p>Elan J will be one of several clothing lines featured in a designer's review taking place Sept. 6 at a venue in New York's Chelsea district. Carissa Randall, a Mulberry resident, said designers whose clothes have been accepted for the review are contractually banned at this time from releasing the location or other details about the event.</p><p>Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, one of the world's premiere events for the sartorial industry, runs Sept. 4 through Sept. 8.</p><p>Carissa Randall, 29, said she submitted a 'lookbook,' a portfolio of garments, during the application period. She learned in late May that Elan J was among the clothing lines selected to be worn by models at one of the official Fashion Week events.</p><p>The name for the line combines the names of Jada Randall's two first-born grandchildren, Jaden and Elani-Hazel.</p><p>Jada Randall's collection includes midi dresses, maxi dresses and slacks, as well as T-shirts and tank tops. One example displayed on the company's website (www.styledbyjada.com), is a peachtree crop top midi skirt. A photo shows a model wearing a clingy, sleeveless dress in blocks of salmon and azure with a halter-like collar.</p><p>Some of the T-shirts display the company's logo, the head of a lion wearing a crown.</p><p>'I love bold prints, bold colors,' Jada Randall said. 'I just love color. I like dark, rich colors, purples.'</p><p>Jada Randall said her favorite designers include the late Gianni Versace, Nicole Miller and Donna Karan. She said she watches fashion shows and awards broadcasts on TV to get ideas and also reads fashion magazines to see what celebrities are wearing.</p><p>Carissa Randall described her mother's designs as 'sophisticated, after-5 wear.' Jada Randall said her fashion preferences trace to her own mother, Pauline Wade.</p><p>'I used to watch my mother dress when we lived in New York when I was a little girl,' Jada Randall said. 'She just dressed so nice and always so classy, and that is where my love for fashion came from, from watching from mom. ... That's what our clothing line is all about - class and elegance.'</p><p>Jada Randall has long been a source of fashion guidance for friends. She said she began receiving inquiries from friends who either saw her out on the town or saw photos of her posted on Facebook and asked her to find outfits to suit them.</p><p>The company's name, Styled by Jada, reflects Jada Randall's practice of 'styling' friends - that is, finding clothes for them and tailoring them, if necessary. That venture led into Randall's creation of her own clothing line custom designed for women based on their measurements.</p><p>Though Carissa Randall has drawn some designs of her own, in general the pair have strictly defined roles.</p><p>'She doesn't want anything to do with the business side,' Carissa Randall said. 'That makes us work together very well. I'm not getting into what she's doing, and she's not getting into what I'm doing.'</p><p>Jada Randall said she pays a seamstress to turn her designs into clothing.</p><p>The Elan J line got its first public exposure last summer when Greater Works Ministries of Winter Haven invited the Randalls to provide clothing for models at a fashion show held in Lakeland. </p><p>'After the show, women were purchasing the clothes off the models,' said Angela Nixon, the Greater Works Ministries member who organized the event.</p><p>Jada Randall spent her childhood in New York, and Carissa Randall said she has been to the city three times. But neither has attended Fashion Week events before.</p><p>'We're extremely excited and stoked,' Carissa Randall said.</p><p>Aside from the thrill of seeing New York models wearing her company's clothes, Carissa Randall said she eagerly anticipates seeing such celebrity designers as Russell Simmons, creator of Phat Farm, Argyleculture and American Classics clothing lines.</p><p>At this point, both Randalls have full-time jobs. Carissa Randall works in the unclaimed property research department for Coca-Cola, and her mother is a probation officer. But Carissa Randall, emphasizing the strength she draws from her Christian faith, said she hopes next month's exposure hastens the day when mother and daughter can devote themselves fully to fashion.</p><p>'My ultimate goal is to mass produce, so I can supply to major department stores,' Carissa Randall said. 'And we also aspire to style celebrities because they are the ones who have really upscale events to go to where they have to be exquisitely presentable. So those are our inspiring goals. </p><p>'We're trying to go global, and we want Elan J to be world renowned.'</p><p>[ Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. He blogs about tourism at http://ift.tt/NCdoZb. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. ]</p>

Throughout her childhood, Carissa Randall often heard her mother speak of her yearning to work in the fashion industry.

Jada Randall frequently discussed her dream of working as a buyer for Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue, one of those glamorous department stores based in faraway New York City.

So when Carissa Randall took a buyout from her job a few years ago, she decided it was time to combine her financial acumen with her mother's fashion aplomb and create a business that would nudge Jada Randall toward her long-held aspiration.

Carissa Randall launched her company, Styled By Jada, in June 2013, with her mother as her sole employee. The business includes a custom clothing line, Elan J, with designs by Jada Randall.

Next month, the business will attain unprecedented exposure as models at an event connected with New York Fashion Week walk a runway wearing Jada Randall's designs.

'I think it's going to launch us, I really do,' said Jada Randall, 51, of Lakeland. 'There's going to be tons and tons of buyers there, and all kinds of fashion bloggers. ... It's a huge opportunity for us in terms of getting our name out there.'

Elan J will be one of several clothing lines featured in a designer's review taking place Sept. 6 at a venue in New York's Chelsea district. Carissa Randall, a Mulberry resident, said designers whose clothes have been accepted for the review are contractually banned at this time from releasing the location or other details about the event.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, one of the world's premiere events for the sartorial industry, runs Sept. 4 through Sept. 8.

Carissa Randall, 29, said she submitted a 'lookbook,' a portfolio of garments, during the application period. She learned in late May that Elan J was among the clothing lines selected to be worn by models at one of the official Fashion Week events.

The name for the line combines the names of Jada Randall's two first-born grandchildren, Jaden and Elani-Hazel.

Jada Randall's collection includes midi dresses, maxi dresses and slacks, as well as T-shirts and tank tops. One example displayed on the company's website (www.styledbyjada.com), is a peachtree crop top midi skirt. A photo shows a model wearing a clingy, sleeveless dress in blocks of salmon and azure with a halter-like collar.

Some of the T-shirts display the company's logo, the head of a lion wearing a crown.

Jada Randall said her favorite designers include the late Gianni Versace, Nicole Miller and Donna Karan. She said she watches fashion shows and awards broadcasts on TV to get ideas and also reads fashion magazines to see what celebrities are wearing.

Carissa Randall described her mother's designs as 'sophisticated, after-5 wear.' Jada Randall said her fashion preferences trace to her own mother, Pauline Wade.

'I used to watch my mother dress when we lived in New York when I was a little girl,' Jada Randall said. 'She just dressed so nice and always so classy, and that is where my love for fashion came from, from watching from mom. ... That's what our clothing line is all about - class and elegance.'

Jada Randall has long been a source of fashion guidance for friends. She said she began receiving inquiries from friends who either saw her out on the town or saw photos of her posted on Facebook and asked her to find outfits to suit them.

The company's name, Styled by Jada, reflects Jada Randall's practice of 'styling' friends - that is, finding clothes for them and tailoring them, if necessary. That venture led into Randall's creation of her own clothing line custom designed for women based on their measurements.

Though Carissa Randall has drawn some designs of her own, in general the pair have strictly defined roles.

'She doesn't want anything to do with the business side,' Carissa Randall said. 'That makes us work together very well. I'm not getting into what she's doing, and she's not getting into what I'm doing.'

Jada Randall said she pays a seamstress to turn her designs into clothing.

The Elan J line got its first public exposure last summer when Greater Works Ministries of Winter Haven invited the Randalls to provide clothing for models at a fashion show held in Lakeland.

'After the show, women were purchasing the clothes off the models,' said Angela Nixon, the Greater Works Ministries member who organized the event.

Jada Randall spent her childhood in New York, and Carissa Randall said she has been to the city three times. But neither has attended Fashion Week events before.

'We're extremely excited and stoked,' Carissa Randall said.

Aside from the thrill of seeing New York models wearing her company's clothes, Carissa Randall said she eagerly anticipates seeing such celebrity designers as Russell Simmons, creator of Phat Farm, Argyleculture and American Classics clothing lines.

At this point, both Randalls have full-time jobs. Carissa Randall works in the unclaimed property research department for Coca-Cola, and her mother is a probation officer. But Carissa Randall, emphasizing the strength she draws from her Christian faith, said she hopes next month's exposure hastens the day when mother and daughter can devote themselves fully to fashion.

'My ultimate goal is to mass produce, so I can supply to major department stores,' Carissa Randall said. 'And we also aspire to style celebrities because they are the ones who have really upscale events to go to where they have to be exquisitely presentable. So those are our inspiring goals.

'We're trying to go global, and we want Elan J to be world renowned.'

[ Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. He blogs about tourism at http://ift.tt/NCdoZb. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. ]

Polk Mother-Daughter Team to Get Exposure at N.Y. Fashion Week

<p>Throughout her childhood, Carissa Randall often heard her mother speak of her yearning to work in the fashion industry.</p><p>Jada Randall frequently discussed her dream of working as a buyer for Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue, one of those glamorous department stores based in faraway New York City.</p><p>So when Carissa Randall took a buyout from her job a few years ago, she decided it was time to combine her financial acumen with her mother's fashion aplomb and create a business that would nudge Jada Randall toward her long-held aspiration.</p><p>Carissa Randall launched her company, Styled By Jada, in June 2013, with her mother as her sole employee. The business includes a custom clothing line, Elan J, with designs by Jada Randall.</p><p>Next month, the business will attain unprecedented exposure as models at an event connected with New York Fashion Week walk a runway wearing Jada Randall's designs.</p><p>'I think it's going to launch us, I really do,' said Jada Randall, 51, of Lakeland. 'There's going to be tons and tons of buyers there, and all kinds of fashion bloggers. ... It's a huge opportunity for us in terms of getting our name out there.'</p><p>Elan J will be one of several clothing lines featured in a designer's review taking place Sept. 6 at a venue in New York's Chelsea district. Carissa Randall, a Mulberry resident, said designers whose clothes have been accepted for the review are contractually banned at this time from releasing the location or other details about the event.</p><p>Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, one of the world's premiere events for the sartorial industry, runs Sept. 4 through Sept. 8.</p><p>Carissa Randall, 29, said she submitted a 'lookbook,' a portfolio of garments, during the application period. She learned in late May that Elan J was among the clothing lines selected to be worn by models at one of the official Fashion Week events.</p><p>The name for the line combines the names of Jada Randall's two first-born grandchildren, Jaden and Elani-Hazel.</p><p>Jada Randall's collection includes midi dresses, maxi dresses and slacks, as well as T-shirts and tank tops. One example displayed on the company's website (www.styledbyjada.com), is a peachtree crop top midi skirt. A photo shows a model wearing a clingy, sleeveless dress in blocks of salmon and azure with a halter-like collar.</p><p>Some of the T-shirts display the company's logo, the head of a lion wearing a crown.</p><p>'I love bold prints, bold colors,' Jada Randall said. 'I just love color. I like dark, rich colors, purples.'</p><p>Jada Randall said her favorite designers include the late Gianni Versace, Nicole Miller and Donna Karan. She said she watches fashion shows and awards broadcasts on TV to get ideas and also reads fashion magazines to see what celebrities are wearing.</p><p>Carissa Randall described her mother's designs as 'sophisticated, after-5 wear.' Jada Randall said her fashion preferences trace to her own mother, Pauline Wade.</p><p>'I used to watch my mother dress when we lived in New York when I was a little girl,' Jada Randall said. 'She just dressed so nice and always so classy, and that is where my love for fashion came from, from watching from mom. ... That's what our clothing line is all about - class and elegance.'</p><p>Jada Randall has long been a source of fashion guidance for friends. She said she began receiving inquiries from friends who either saw her out on the town or saw photos of her posted on Facebook and asked her to find outfits to suit them.</p><p>The company's name, Styled by Jada, reflects Jada Randall's practice of 'styling' friends - that is, finding clothes for them and tailoring them, if necessary. That venture led into Randall's creation of her own clothing line custom designed for women based on their measurements.</p><p>Though Carissa Randall has drawn some designs of her own, in general the pair have strictly defined roles.</p><p>'She doesn't want anything to do with the business side,' Carissa Randall said. 'That makes us work together very well. I'm not getting into what she's doing, and she's not getting into what I'm doing.'</p><p>Jada Randall said she pays a seamstress to turn her designs into clothing.</p><p>The Elan J line got its first public exposure last summer when Greater Works Ministries of Winter Haven invited the Randalls to provide clothing for models at a fashion show held in Lakeland. </p><p>'After the show, women were purchasing the clothes off the models,' said Angela Nixon, the Greater Works Ministries member who organized the event.</p><p>Jada Randall spent her childhood in New York, and Carissa Randall said she has been to the city three times. But neither has attended Fashion Week events before.</p><p>'We're extremely excited and stoked,' Carissa Randall said.</p><p>Aside from the thrill of seeing New York models wearing her company's clothes, Carissa Randall said she eagerly anticipates seeing such celebrity designers as Russell Simmons, creator of Phat Farm, Argyleculture and American Classics clothing lines.</p><p>At this point, both Randalls have full-time jobs. Carissa Randall works in the unclaimed property research department for Coca-Cola, and her mother is a probation officer. But Carissa Randall, emphasizing the strength she draws from her Christian faith, said she hopes next month's exposure hastens the day when mother and daughter can devote themselves fully to fashion.</p><p>'My ultimate goal is to mass produce, so I can supply to major department stores,' Carissa Randall said. 'And we also aspire to style celebrities because they are the ones who have really upscale events to go to where they have to be exquisitely presentable. So those are our inspiring goals. </p><p>'We're trying to go global, and we want Elan J to be world renowned.'</p><p>[ Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. He blogs about tourism at http://ift.tt/NCdoZb. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. ]</p>